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Thursday, October 31, 2013

Team B are back this week over at MAWTT with a fun challenge from Sue...no design papers..which is challenging, but lots of fun, as you have to explore all other aspects of your kit.

I am very happy with my card, it's so cheerful! And I got to use lots of different parts of my kit.

I die cut a polaroid style frame using my Silhouette, paper doilies, a strip of blue paper, some buttons and twine. The image is a digital stamp by Pink Petticoat and part of the Beach Cottage image set..I love this set and it has beautiful papers.. I coloured the image using Faber Castell Gelatos and an aquabrush.

The lettering was tricky, because every time I tried a solid colour it fought with the blue strip..so I got creative and cut it out in white and then using a stencil I coloured it using 3 different shades of blue and a bit of white..complicated?! Maybe :)

Do pop over to the Moving Along With The Times blog and get inspired by the fabulous creations by the rest of the DT.

One more thing before I go...I just wanted to say Happy Anniversary to my Hubby..now I can finally give him his prize winning card :)

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Happy WOYWW to you - can't believe it's that time already..Time for what I hear you wonder? Well pop over to Julia's blog Stamping Ground for the weekly global desk nosy

My desk is a busy place this week :) You can see a stack of new Stamping Bella stamps (naughty, naughty), a cog paper I made - JT's suggestion, some hexagons, a die-cut thank you, an anniversary card that needs a greeting, parts of another card - both of these cards use the illustration that my work colleague Leia did and gave to me, my pencil, my mouse, a stack of die-cuts (in black), a pack of fabric mistables and a bottle of spray in - both are new and were on sale, so I am giving it a go.

The reason all this stuff is on my desk because I have a million things going on - making for a craft fair, making 40 for 40 and making for November birthday. anniversaries, etc.

Now back to the title of my post - yesterday I received 2 lovely things in the post for my birthday - one of them is from Marit - a WOYWW friend. Thank you so much Marit for the lovely piece of Altered Art, that has pride of place on my bookshelf. Here are a couple of photos (I had to doctor the front, so my address isn't on display)

Front of Marit's card

Reverse Marit's card

I also got a lovely notebook from Paperchase, from a friend in the UK..I am loving this turning 40 thing, it just keeps on giving.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Infact, I had it all planned out in my head on the way home last night...but once I had made the card, it didn't really work with the flower I had in mind.

So I had a rummage through my embellishment box and found a pack of skeleton leaves that I thought I'd lost!

I think they work really well here, they are so delicate I could never think of a suitable use for them. Here is a close-up of them, they really are beautiful, by Papermania and I bought them on my last visit to JT's local craft store.

RS#87 Skeleton Leaf close-up

I also used flowery paper by American Crafts, brown patterned paper is by DCWV, pink paper from my stash and my faithful Candies. The stamp was also a rediscovered gem - part of the Birdsong set by Papermania.

If you look too close you can see an oops at the top of the card, nothing major, but still an oops.

I should also mention that I got a Retro Sketches Shout-out for my entry to RS #85 - hence the shiny new badge on my sidebar..how lovely is that.

Monday, October 28, 2013

I love it when I get free craft goodies and the image on today's card was a free download from an old craft magazine that I decided to re-visit a couple of weeks ago. I was delighted to discover the downloads had not expired and got a whole set of digi stamps with a summer theme.

I had a friend in mind when I made this card, so I used colours that remind me of her. The background paper is by American Crafts and I coloured the stamp using Promarkers. The sentiment is a coloured peel-off.

I have this lovely Stamping Bella Pixie stamp that I don't use very often and thought it would be fun to break it out here and colour it using part of the CTD palette.

I think the spotty paper (the last of a my minds eye set) is close enough to baked brown sugar and the white space around my image counts as my use of white. The embossed Navy paper was a gift from JT, she has this amazing wood effect embossing folder and she sends me pieces of card that she has embossed using this folder :) The sentiment is by Tim Holz and I used my fave VersaMagic Gingerbread ink to stamp it. As we all know I love a Candi! And the one here suits the colour scheme perfectly.

This card was such a simple, easy and fun make. Now I want to make a whole bunch of them to give as set!

Thursday, October 24, 2013

So this is a bit of a random post, but I wanted to share my joy and show some of the beginnings of my projects.

I am wondering out loud a bit here - but is it sad that I feel like the shiny new Birthday Silhouette Portrait is fast becoming a friend :)

I LOVE new tools and being a bit geeky I love electronic gadgetry more than anything.

I had a few frustrating moments at first with the Portrait - all my fault not the machine's.

Now I feel like we are becoming very comfortable with each other.

I got a few bonus hours off yesterday, so I rushed home to work on some 40 for 40 ideas..

The main photo is of the elephant that I cut using the Portrait. Notice how the elephant is on elephant paper (by Pink Petticoat)..I bought the elephant because the paper inspired me.

I love the fact that files are only 99cents and I can decide what I want and I can use my own fonts.

I also bought myself a Whale file, to use with my Pink Petticoat fish paper - again a 40 for 40 idea...
Here's a photo of him all cut out, I am planning on using the negative piece as a one-off stencil!!

Whale die-cut and fishy paper

The idea of creating my own stencils is very appealing, I need to do more research around that.

I've also found that because these die-cuts are quite intricate, I need a better adhesive solution...I stumbled across TomBow Aqua, it has a fine tip and a wide tip and it dries clear and is super easy to apply to detailed designs.

So that's my geek gushing session over, I hope you enjoyed this little reveal of what I am up to and what tools I am currently loving.

I really enjoyed WOYWW yesterday, nice to catch up with some of my blog buddies and look at the fab things going on around the globe..I love nosing at desks.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Brrr! Having had an extended Summer (or Fummer as Hubby is calling it - Fake Summer) the cooler Autumn weather has come as a bit of a shock.

I am sure that across the WOYWW community, you have been experiencing the same shock.

WOYWW for those of you that do not know is hosted by the lovely Julia on her blog Stamping Ground, we have a weekly global desk nose - why not join us?

My desk is a hive of activity this week - DT makes kicking around, 40 for 40 remnants, fabric squares - for Lavender sachets I am making, a card for a friend and another half coloured version, my automatic pencil (LOVE automatic pencils), some scanned in and printed out stamps and my glasses.

I thought I'd give you a sneak preview of one of the 40 for 40 cards -

Live, Love and Laugh

I love the paper on this card, it is from Michael's and I've used it several times - most notably for my Father's Day card last year. I used a Tim Holz stencil for the spotty / grid background, one of my beloved Range flowers and you can just see a teeny bit of doily poking out! I think he needs something else, so be warned wherever he ends up, he might look slightly different :)

I have also been wracking my brain for a way to decide who gets what..So I have decided to write out all the envelopes and turn them upside down and lay a card on top of them, that way it is completely random.

Oh and before I go, check out my shiny new Featured Stamper badge...isn't he gorgeous :) It's all thanks to JT.

JT posted her card yesterday...I love the set she has made and the colours work really well.

Mine is the main photo today and I am very pleased with it, bar the minor hiccup (sentiment slightly stamped on the flower). I am going to add it to the 40 for 40 pile.

I used Hippy Chick papers for the striped background and the navy blue paper (which I embossed using a Cuttlebug large dots folder), the pale blue and the coral are random bits of paper from my stash, the flowers are by Dovecraft and I punched 2 contrasting mini flowers to layer them up. The sentiment is by Stampin' Up and the silver paper is left over from a birthday card I made earlier in the week.

I decided not to cut the silver bits into banner points, as I liked the bluntness of them as they are!

I am busy stenciling today, as I have all these ideas for 40 for 40, so I am trying to execute as many of them as possible today.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Well not quite.. but the MAWTT challenge theme this week is Christmas Cuties..

The wonderful stamp on my card today is by Lawn Fawn and I bought it to make OWH cards - which have now been despatched (and I am working on VALENTINES!!)

I love this stamp, so easy to colour and the sentiment is really sweet.

I used Promarkers to colour the Owl, the background paper is by Michael's - I love spotty paper, the glittery die cut was made using a Spellbinders die and I finished off with a bit of bling!

Here is the OWH version - no glitter allowed no bling and the actual card is much smaller :)

OWH - Owl I want for Christmas is you

For those of you that don't know what OWH is, it is Operation Write Home..you make cards for US troops to send home to their loved ones..I used to do it when I lived in the UK, but I'm not allowed to now :( so I do it for the US troops instead..giving back is giving back right?

Hope you are going to join our little taste of Christmas this week and enter the challenge. Don't forget to have a nose at the fabulous team creations.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Hope you are having a good week so far..I am! Hubby and I went to watch a Basketball game last night and had a great time.

I know I always say this, but where has the week gone?! It's time for us all to join Julia over at Stamping Ground for the weekly desk nosy. Go and take a peek if you don't know what I am talking about.

My desk is interesting this week..a stack of 40 for 40 cards to the far right...ready to be dispatched, some new Fiskars stamps ($1.99 a set from Marshalls), a pile of new sewing patterns - the new machine is a dream..my phone and new notepad, a KennyK image, a pen and a pencil, my glasses and a die cut Mr&Mrs for the card you can see below.

Not too tidy, but not really messy either.

Here's a close up of the stamps..

Yummy new stamps.

I made this card for my opposite number at work as she is getting married on Saturday..she is wearing blue shoes and is having yellow flowers, so I thought I'd personalise it a bit...

MioNa and Alex's Wedding card

This is the first time the Silhouette has really done what I had in my head when I bought it...I love bold matchy match type and it really works here. Yay!

Tomorrow is my 2nd outing as a DT..hope some of you join in the challenge over at MAWTT, it's a good one.

Have a good day everyone, I'll be peeking at your desks throughout the day.

Cx

p.s Julia if you are reading this...I love your blog..thank you for gifting me a fun place to hang on a Weds.

I combined the sketch from RS with the Daring Cardmakers theme..I love the little bit of bunting around the beach hut and reminds me of a birthday party that was thrown for me when I was at Uni..The sentiment makes me want to open the card, which is always a nice touch.

Following on from yesterday's post about my obsession I have used another one of the Pink Petticoat Beach Cottage images :) Coloured with Promarkers and glitter glue. The orange paper is by Michaels, I used a Martha Stewart loopy border punch to create the border and the Heart paper is by Amy Tangerine for American Crafts and I used a Candi, to embellish the tag.

Love this card, I am thinking it might go in the growing pile of 40 for 40 :)

I'm also very pleased with my photo, as it was taken late at night using my new photo tent - thanks Hubby!

Monday, October 14, 2013

Alright I admit it, I am slightly obsessed by Pink Petticoat... I have most of their papers, quite a few sets and some image stamps.

They print so well and are a joy to colour. I love Liz at Pink Petticoat (in fact I want to be her..), her style is so simple and easy to use.

The stamp is on my card today is one of my latest purchases and part of the Beach Cottage image set and there are papers too.

I decided to use a Studio Calico paper for the background, as I thought it toned well with the stamp...I had a small accident when placing the sentiment, hence it being wonky and not really where it should be..

I added twine and a button for a bit of interest.

The boat was coloured using my newish Faber Castell Gelatos and an aquabrush...I like the wishy washy effect. The star and the gulls were blinged (totally not a word) up with glitter glue.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

No I am not stealing ideas...but yesterday I did see a cool challenge on JT's blog and thought I'd enter too :)

JT's card is really awesome, I love the stamp on her card and suspect she's kept that away from my sticky paws!

The challenge at Addicted To Stamps this week is 'Anything Goes' and as I used a KennyK stamp (Fashionista) I thought I'd enter their challenge again :) Which is also 'Anything Goes'

This card is for my friend Karen and as she is pretty stylish I thought the Fashionista stamp would be perfect for her. I coloured the card using Promarkers with a touch of glitterglue here and there. I wanted a striped background - not sure why, but I am happy with the paper I chose in the end, which is by Studio Calico. I added Candi's that match the paper perfectly - score. And a little punched sentiment to finish it off.

A fun card for a fun friend :)

I've had a little play on the new sewing machine...more on that later in the week.

Hubby is cooking dinner and Dr Kevin is coming to join us - Happy Sunday!

The background paper is from Michael's and part of a multicoloured set, the stamp was coloured using Promarkers and I chose Blue Lagoon for the dress, as I thought it was quite close in tonal values to Jade (the colour). The sentiment was made using my EK Success tag punch.

I love this card, it was such fun to colour and it really pops against the background.

WOYWW was fun yesterday, unfortunately I have to go to back to the hospital today for a bit of surgery...nothing major.

We said goodbye to Nkem this morning, so that's us back to normal for a little while...

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Yep, it's that time again where we join Julia over at Stamping Ground for the weekly desk nose...pop along and see what I am on about!

I enjoyed my first week as a DT, I got to comment on some fab things and it was nice to see so many entries.

This week my desk looks a bit dark and cluttered this week. You can see a stack of Thank You cards waiting to go in envelopes, my trusty pink notebook, I've covered over a card for my DT post on 31st Oct (sorry) and to the right of that you can see some ideas forming for 40 for 40..tools, post-its, tape, glasses..all manner of stuff!

No makes to show this week, as I have Nkem here until tomorrow AM and that ends our spate of visitors until Hubby's folks arrive at the end of the month. Meaning I can get back to crafting normally and not in the twilight zone :)

Here's a pic for you of Lemon, Nkem and I on Sunday (we walked the Highline, as the ferry wasn't running).

Nkem, Moi and Lemon on the Highline, NYC

Happy WOYWW, I am off to the hospital today for most of the day (nothing serious, all routine) and will be home early enough to have a proper nose at all your lovely desks.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Firstly, I want to wish my Parents a very Happy Anniversary today...they have been married 9 years and together for 40 something?! I believe they waited for their child to be organised / old enough to plan their wedding :)

I am having a good week so far...I have Nkem here in NYC with Hubby and I, which is nice and we spent last night chilling and crafting (well I was crafting..).

It was sad to say goodbye to Lemon, but it was awesome to have her with us for so long.

The pink-ness of the card is totally accidental..it just seemed everything I touched last night was pink! The flower sequins are a fave and they are from a prize I won ages ago. The chevron frame was cut using the Silhouette, which I am now slowly getting the hang of! The sentiment is by Stampin' Up and is one I use surprisingly often.

All in all it's come out quite well and I think I might just have a use for it..

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Last night we had our last Margarita's with Lemon, as she leaves at 4am on Monday - boo!

It's been a lot of fun and now Nkem is here, so more fun will ensue I am sure.

Yesterday morning I managed to do quite a lot before Nkem arrived...Skyped with JT (lots of good news from her..) and Ma (who has gifted me this awesome site to buy patterns from) and managed to have a play with the new Silhouette.

I really wanted to enter Freshly Made Sketches this week, as the sketch and the DT takes on it were very inspiring.

Here is the sketch -

My main photo today is obviously the entry and I decided to use one of my least fave items - coloured doily's alongside a new bit of lettering (Hello) from the Silhouette which I am very pleased with - as it was made using a font I own and required no purchase!! I also used a green paper from the dots and stripes 6x6 stack by American Crafts (Marshalls $1.99 bargain) and some of JT's punched butterflies (which we all know I love).

It all ended up rather green, but I like the feel of it and I think it's one to keep in my stash for sending to special people.

Hope you had a happy Saturday too..Hubby has to work today, but Lemon, Nkem and I are off to Governor's Island on a little bike tour, you get to see the Statue of Liberty reasonably close-up from Governor's Island.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Both teams have had a nice Summer break and are back with some new members - myself included :)

The theme this week over at Moving Along With The Times is - Anything Goes..

I decided that I would use my one of my fave KennyK stamps - Sexy Cupid to make a fun anniversary card for my friends (it has arrived and they love it, which makes it all worth while!)

I coloured her using Promarkers, the sentiment is one I printed and punched, the glittery strips were bought in Poundland before I left the UK and the backing paper is from an amazing stack of 150 sheets of 6x6 papers by DCWV that I got at Marshalls here in NYC for only $2!!

I miss Poundland!

Hope you pop over and join in the fun and see what the rest of the team has made, there are some lovely creations to look at this week.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

It's Weds and normal here is WOYWW - the weekly global desk nose with Julia and the gang..pop over to Julia's blog Stampin' Ground and find out what I am talking about.

This week to 'reward' all the WOYWW gang that sent me such lovely birthday wishes last week, I thought I share some photos of my birthday celebrations along with one of my desk...

Main photo is my desk...you can see the usual stuff on it, but it's quite tidy and in the middle of my desk is my Parent's anniversary and a Thank You card for their birthday gift...I always theme my personal Thank You's, so everyone is getting the same one :)

Here are some of the squillions of birthday photos (edited..let's keep it clean..) -

My very pink and slightly hideous cake, as requested!!

Me and Hubby in Atlantic City

Hari and Hubby!

The whole gang in Atlantic City...but what is Polly doing?!

Lemon, Polly and Me in Atlantic City

View from hotel in Atlantic City - Sunday Morning

Hope you enjoy the photos! I am off to work and will nose at desks later..I do have 5 more slots left for 40 for 40...so if you haven't already signed up, then use the link in my sidebar.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

OMG it has been an action packed birthday...more about that tomorrow....

For the first post of October I thought I'd celebrate with a challenge entry..I saw Retro Sketches this week and thought that it would make my parents an interesting Anniversary card.

Here's the sketch -

Retro Sketches #83

I actually found the sketch quite difficult to reproduce, but after a few moments of contemplation I came up with the card you see in today's main photo.

It's a little strange, as my border punch doesn't quite butt up to the middle. I added the hearts, as it felt a bit bare :) The chevron paper makes it all feel a bit modern. I like the end result and I hope my parents will too.

Hello!

Welcome to the Ham'n'Mule Designs blog.

I set-up this blog to share tips, my projects, some chit chat and my family adventures!

Now for the fine print..

This is a personal blog and the majority of the things you see here are my own creations. I sometimes CASE other people's work and I am happy for you to the same with mine. But I would appreciate it if you'd give me a shout out and a link back to this blog if you do, just as I do with when I CASE. Please do not present anything you find here as your own or submit my work for competitions or for publication.